Monday, February 24, 2014

I used a $4 white sheet to make these. First I measured the chair from the bottom over the top, down the front across the seat. Cut the sheet to that length. Second I measured from the seat to the floor and made three squares to cover the legs. In the top-right picture I sewed on a triangle because the chair widened as it went out. Then I sewed on the squares for the legs. Lastly I put ribbon on the back of the chair so I could tie the back together.

For the red bows I got some red fabric and cut into four strips. Sewed two and two to make two really long pieces. I put right sides together and sewed around leaving one end open. Flip. sewed all around the whole thing closing off the open end.

This was a dinner for my brother in law to propose. I plan on using them for a nice date night with my hubby.

This last Valentines Day I wanted to send flowers for my sisters that live in town. But when looking for real flowers at the store they seemed like too much money for what you get. I needed four bouquets. For one rose, a vase, and a card it was $12. Well, I will let you do the math. So, I decided to make my own. I made a trip to Joann's and spent around $15 on different colors of silk, and tulle. I also got lace, beads, and wire. I already had ribbon, felt, and cotton fabric.

I combined a few ideas from pintrest for this Listening Board. They start at the top and during the day if they are caught miss behaving, not listening and doing their chores the first time I ask they are moved down the chart. Pretty simple.

After I made this my daughter asked me if we could make a chart that moved up when they were listening well. So, that got me thinking...I thought yes we should have a reward attached to being good. So, if they stay at the top they get a reward buck. They get to choose how to spend them. Some ideas are:

Ice Cream before bed

Redbox night with popcorn

Pick a prize out of the prize basket(filled with dollar store items)

Skip a day of chores

Extra computer time or WII time

They have to save up for these. For instance ice cream is 5 reward bucks and redbox night is 10.

Also if the stay at the top they get two warm fuzzies into their jar. When their jar is full they get to go out to ice cream with Mom and Dad.

This has worked so well for me and my girls. I don't have to yell at them to do their chores in the morning and they get more fun with Mom and Dad.

Here are the jars I made for them to put the warm fuzzies. I just used modpodge to glue the scrapbook paper on and then used stamp letters for their names.

Friday, January 17, 2014

These were probably the one felt food that I created without any tutorial or direction. It was also the most enjoyable one I have done. I had so much fun making these. My sister thought they were real when she first glanced at them in the container.

So I had this container from our 72 hour kits. We had recently rotated the food in our kits. This is what inspired me to make it into Felt!

First you cut the felt into circles. Mine are about the size of a Quarter maybe a little bigger. You will want to make your black circles a little larger than the white ones.

Second I put two layers together for the outer cookie. So, you will need four circles for one mini oreo. I used the blanket stitch for both the outer cookie and the filling. Here is one of the best tutorials on how to blanket stitch.

Third, I used three circles for the filling. I tried two at first but felt it wasn't going to be thick enough.

So, here is some done. I ended up making eight cookies so this is not all of them.

Fifth, I put the cookie and the filling together. To sew them you first take embroidery thread two thick. Then I put it through the middle and out the top so the knot isn't showing. Next I put the needle through all the layers to the bottom, but when I came back up I only went through the filling. So I could put my needle through the top cookie in a different place on the cookie. This way I was able to get the imprints without showing the movement of my needle. I did this all the way around.

Then I put them all in the cup to wrap for Christmas. My girls totally love them.

Comment if you have any questions.

Also more felt tutorials to come. Just to name a few sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies, Popsicles.